[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587466,"mediaKeyId","5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39","parentId",5595896,"title","Jackson council approves 2025 Ecosystem Health Indicator Report; directs annual tracking and public posting","audioSeconds",2992,"startMs",1857000,"endMs",4849000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39&start=1857&end=4849","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39/thumbnail_1857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587466/Jackson/Teton-County/Wyoming/Jackson-council-approves-2025-Ecosystem-Health-Indicator-Report-directs-annual-tracking-and-public-posting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587466-a7c11aacd9dfaa50d8b6948d23de019f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445478&Signature=MstP3KxfiGV5jRPhL1k-QbJsILaCo~wAlBqcKUdKXx-aVOXzHQ4ZO0YLKGpr~cMBMzA7cvj3VHVDfRsAhwLo1dG5BYDO28qR99dbbgNZzdronNtWx5VR7~~Y59sTh7EUC0H0ADm0Xhr6f61VVEiW-QP2nrwKfx4Lv-kDFRBtZwmxhFlEjj6JHIibpLkAra3cECPiYEkY0lZbQSYm7JzWbg9H53vJKQR2UPaGTSIBW2ZLNcw2CQTQIg52gorBz2hcqpFJhH-AlvnRzq3LGj3ZVDFd5wfyJlx6C0JvpP6ChKl03eLeghju5DjIU-WhNvzR58VEcmnJMRdaphuM1Uab4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson","date","2025-08-18T00:00:00Z","article","Jackson\u00046s Town Council voted unanimously Aug. 18 to accept the town\u00046s 2025 Ecosystem Health Indicator Report and directed staff to track the report\u00046s 12 priority indicators annually, post the report on the town website and work with external affairs to share it with the public.

The report, presented by Tanya Anderson, the town\u00046s ecosystem stewardship administrator, and Olivia Park, ecosystem stewardship engineer, compiles long-term data on air quality, night-sky brightness, water temperatures and flow, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, barriers to wildlife movement and wildlife disease across the Snake River Headwaters watershed. Anderson said the intent was to provide an early-warning set of measures: \"That's ultimately what indicators are. They're taking the temperature of our waterways,\" she told council.

Why it matters: Council members and staff emphasized that the indicators connect environment, community and local economy — for example, wildfire smoke and particulate matter affect human health, mountain visibility and tourism; river temperatures affect trout fisheries and recreational fishing; and bear conflicts driven by food attractants pose both public-safety and wildlife-management costs.

Key findings from the report
- Air: PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) was judged \"moderate\" for 2024, with two exceedances tied to last October\u00046s Pack Trail wildfire; PM10 (larger particles) met EPA human-health thresholds and rated \"good.\" Staff recommended public education about human-health risks and suggested follow-up study on wildfire smoke impacts on animal health or algae blooms.
- Night sky brightness: Grand Teton National Park measured nearly \"excellent\" dark-sky conditions while the town of Jackson measured closer to suburban skies. Winter light-reflection and holiday lighting are likely contributors; the town is required to convert lighting to dark-sky-compliant fixtures by 2030.
- Water temperature and flow: At Grand Teton National Park\u00046s Moose gauge (upstream of development), days with maximum summer temperature above 68\u00046F rose to 21 in 2021 and 32 in 2022 before dropping in 2023-24; staff noted reservoir drawdowns at Jackson Lake and inter-annual snowpack timing as contributing factors. Stream discharge is managed by dam operations; staff said current ramp-down patterns are less abrupt than in 2021 but that ongoing University of Idaho work may provide more quantitative guidance.
- Macroinvertebrates: A long Flat Creek dataset showed high variability over decades, with recoveries after municipal stormwater treatments and declines during periods of disturbance. Anderson and councilors flagged this metric as a strong, actionable indicator linked to town-level infrastructure and stormwater management.
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): A contracted study sampled three locations and seasons; two of three lab results have returned. Staff reported detections in inflow to the town\u00046s stormwater-treatment wetlands and lower concentrations in outflow, with no detectable concentrations in Flat Creek itself under current lab detection limits. Anderson said the results are preliminary and that further study and public education about potential sources (for example, some ski waxes, vehicle products, consumer goods) are next steps.
- Aquatic invasive species: No quagga or zebra mussels were detected; inspectors examined more than 2,000 watercraft last year and removed mussels from two boats before they entered local waters; New Zealand mudsnail is present but not widespread.
- Plant invasive species: The report used acres affected as a summary metric; staff noted 12,000 acres as a recent low and that today\u00046s total acres impacted has risen, with some species (e.g., cheatgrass) posing heightened wildfire risk.
- Wildlife corridors and human-wildlife conflicts: Fencing removal peaked in 2019 inside the county; 2024 removal efforts outside the county were higher than in prior years. Councilors and public commenters emphasized local concerns about new tall privacy fences that can impede seasonal movement, particularly in East Jackson. The chart on bear conflicts showed 186 total conflicts in the region (168 in the county proper), and staff told council that 127 of 168 county conflicts were related to trash and food attractants.
- Wildlife disease: Chronic wasting disease prevalence remains lower in Teton County than in other parts of Wyoming, but staff cautioned the deer sample size for 2024 was small (39 deer tested; three positives) and recommended continued support for Wyoming Game & Fish testing and education.

Council direction and next steps: Staff recommended continuing the 12 priority-1 indicators annually and adding priority-2 and -3 indicators as capacity and budget allow, including groundwater monitoring, nutrient parameters and additional wildlife metrics. After discussion, council voted to approve the report and directed staff to: track the indicators annually; post the report on the town\u00046s website; and work with the town\u00046s external affairs team to share the report publicly, \"as discussed today.\" The motion passed unanimously with Councilman Schechter absent.

Public comment and stakeholder input: County and nonprofit partners appeared during the public-comment period. Chris Pels, Teton County\u00046s water resources coordinator, urged continued town-county coordination and highlighted ongoing action items in the county's Water Quality Management Plan; Protect Our Water Jackson Hole asked for increased attention to nitrogen and nitrate monitoring; and a number of residents pressed for continued emphasis on fencing removal and wildlife permeability in East Jackson.

What staff asked council to decide: Whether to continue annual reporting of the same 12 indicators and whether to direct staff to add higher-resource indicators. Staff noted that adding priority-2 or -3 indicators often requires additional staffing, time, or contracted studies.

Background and scope: The report covers the Snake River Headwaters watershed above the Grays River confluence and draws on datasets from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (air monitoring site at High School Road), Grand Teton National Park, the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group, contracted PFAS sampling (Alder Environmental), and local monitoring such as the Flat Creek macroinvertebrate dataset. Anderson said the report was the product of multi-year stakeholder engagement, focus groups on air, water, wildlife, plants and land, and intern-supported data analysis.

Council members said they supported continued distribution and use of the report to guide education, enforcement and policy — including stormwater management, dark-sky lighting conversions, riparian restoration, and coordination on Jackson Lake water releases to balance irrigation needs and fishery protections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson - Town Council Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","Jackson\u00046s Town Council voted unanimously Aug. 18 to accept the town\u00046s 2025 Ecosystem Health Indicator Report and directed staff to track the report\u00046s 12 priority indicators annually, post the report on the town website and work with external affairs to share it with the public.","taxTitle","Jackson, Teton County, Wyoming","taxId",63787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587454,"Travel and Tourism Board briefs council on Sustainable Destination Management Plan; council seeks wording clarity before formal action",2957,7815000,10772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39&start=7815&end=10772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39/thumbnail_7815000.jpg","/articles/6587454/Jackson/Teton-County/Wyoming/Travel-and-Tourism-Board-briefs-council-on-Sustainable-Destination-Management-Plan-council-seeks-wording-clarity-before-formal-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587454-1a60b929f6e6467e55f8a5b8a345c027/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445478&Signature=FKa4oHLhMd89hHZIWQskBNqeEmK5AoQzG-DArUqTy785Iaihsobg0YVia087G-KYSbXhpoFNwaGOM-rHQFsMEF9NaPulvz8vlsHX0wcs3pk8Ho1cGUrFWroAfZRAknIBXvPzKT1VTa44DApjaNqQpXW6EcymNZOYIqOdiAsx0cDD87VaRZeBOThypMuqRTfuJYu3pq3E5UY3eqiVwSMZA2KV53jJVg845cflXo0TehwCfoE-EfuZW~J1zM2Nk~E-m145e4qecaeijoI8UVf9IUCDyhkKbAb-xhWYv4pQ0-2IES~FSex9H3OyUKz3931-Df5E-7l4AQ7xXcSveslCWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lindsay (destination management coordinator for the Travel and Tourism Board) presented the Sustainable Destination Management Plan (SDMP) to the Town Council Aug. 18 and described implementation progress, governance structures and the plan's public outreach and data tools. The presentation was informational and no formal town motion was taken.

What the SDMP is: The SDMP is a multi-stakeholder plan the Travel and Tourism Board developed to align visitor management, community values, and economic stewardship. Lindsay read the board\u00046s mission and emphasized that the SDMP\u00046s goals encompass environmental protection, quality of life for residents, and a resilient tourism economy.

Key details presented
- Lodging tax structure: Lodging tax in Wyoming is 5% statewide; of that, 3% is remitted to the state marketing office, and 2% remains at the county level. Of the county\u00046s 2%, the Travel and Tourism Board receives 60% and the town/county retain 40% for local priorities. Lindsay cited the statute and state guidance that govern permissible uses of lodging tax revenues.
- Plan structure and pillars: The SDMP is organized around pillars including natural environment, quality of economy and work, quality of life and quality of visitor experience. The plan contains 25 initiatives and about 80–90 priority actions in a phased progress tracker; most Phase 1 items are described as complete or in progress.
- Governance: The Destination Stewardship Council (DSC) is an interim multi-stakeholder advisory body including parks and federal agencies, the chamber, lodging and community representatives. The SDMP recommends a Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO) as a longer-term governance form, but Lindsay said the TTB and community will continue implementation in the interim.
- Data and transparency: The TTB now posts a tourism dashboard and a public progress tracker for the SDMP, resident and visitor sentiment survey results and other indicators; Lindsay said the materials are on jacksonhole.com and linked from TTB resources.

Council discussion: Council members generally expressed support for continuing SDMP implementation and emphasized coordination with the town\u00046s comp plan, transportation and housing priorities. Several council members urged clarity on what municipal \"adoption\" or \"endorsement\" of the SDMP would mean in practice. Town legal staff suggested \"endorse\" or \"accept\" might be more precise than \"adopt,\" depending on whether the town wanted to accept the SDMP as policy guidance or commit to specific actions and funding. Lindsay and councilors also discussed the DMMO concept and noted statutory and joint-powers details still under review.

Next steps and staff notes: The Travel and Tourism Board requested formal acknowledgment of the plan from the town and county, with the staff and the town attorney noting that language will be important to define roles, accountability, and funding expectations. Lindsay said the SDMP is already being implemented in many places by different partners and that full funding for every SDMP initiative would require coordinated leadership and additional resources beyond lodging-tax staff capacity.

Public-land and agency perspective: Council members noted that federal public-land managers value the coordination the SDMP fosters. Council members also linked SDMP priorities to other town work, including ecosystem indicators and parking/transportation initiatives.

Outcome: No vote taken. Council requested follow-up conversations with staff and the town attorney to determine appropriate language to record the town\u00046s position (for example, endorse, accept or adopt) and to clarify joint responsibilities with the county and other partners.","The Travel and Tourism Board presented its Sustainable Destination Management Plan (SDMP) to the Town Council Aug. 18. Council members expressed general support and raised questions about next steps and governance language (\"adopt\" vs. \"endorse\"); no formal council action was taken.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587459,"Jackson places UTV rental and use study on priority list amid right‑of‑way, parking and public‑land concerns",953,6840000,7793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39&start=6840&end=7793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39/thumbnail_6840000.jpg","/articles/6587459/Jackson/Teton-County/Wyoming/Jackson-places-UTV-rental-and-use-study-on-priority-list-amid-rightofway-parking-and-publicland-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587459-a8bb1659824b9407e870aa053d7fdc67/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445478&Signature=SPQZSkKFqA0xUFXjXmc~h20f4~Ih8w6ZOZslpsobF1R4gU0ZZxhqVx4cR1t9O3NFUDCwsM9kgY1vaIHoAwiJZ440xrKfexvyaXqFAi5GTriV~Mx8S6BPmST7AXmK0LXehyYfGOv1MUK2g0homFcOeOjoVpBooXuUM3RXbVqjvAm6BldZ7lSnSjQT~M4XL076uFFLC3UxOKsEdo0cDvdwPBb092f1WuW7f25UhTZE84n92SzFJUv10uy-nzviOeSlYumA1pVdUO0-0Qag-8Tt95Kww1cdRmEKxyJZ6vN6LUNLgGbIURUbvuJaeJAHNTnBTZsAmjl4TEx2LT91ldB2Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council asked staff Aug. 18 to add a comprehensive scoping report on utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs), rental operations and commercial use of the public right-of-way to the town\u00046s priority-initiative (PI) list.

Paul Anthony, director of planning and building, told council that UTV businesses present a mix of land‑use, parking, enforcement and public‑land impacts because many of the operators currently function without brick‑and‑mortar leases and use public curb and right‑of‑way for storage, inspection and customer pickup. Anthony said the town currently regulates vehicle rentals in the land‑development regulations as a vehicle-rental use, a category that assumes centralized rental yards and not the mobile, right‑of‑way–focused operations some UTV vendors run.

Why staff recommended study: Questions include whether to (a) treat UTV rental as vehicle rental or a distinct use; (b) change parking and curb-management rules around commercial use of the right-of-way; (c) address noise and public-safety impacts in town code; and (d) coordinate with federal land managers (Forest Service, National Park Service) who report increasing UTV traffic on trails and staging areas.

Staff estimated the work could take roughly 75–100 hours of staff time if council wanted a comprehensive review and said the topic overlaps planning, police, transportation/parking and public‑lands coordination. Planning staff said they can handle a scoped study but warned that a full, public-facing regulation change could draw substantial engagement from operators and other stakeholders.

Council action: Councilman Regan moved — and Councilwoman Beeman seconded — that staff place the UTV scoping report on the PI list so the council can consider it at the February retreat; the motion passed unanimously with Councilman Schechter absent.

Context and related issues: Several council members and staff said the question is broader than UTVs alone and touches on how the town manages commercial use of public curb space more generally, including tour operators, boat operators and shared-vehicle platforms. Transportation staff flagged that commercial curb use is part of the upcoming parking-action-plan conversation, scheduled for a September workshop. Public-land managers told staff they are encountering more UTV traffic linked to businesses operating from town.

Next steps: Staff will place the UTV/rights-of-way scoping item on the PI list, coordinate with transportation staff and the Forest Service as needed, and refine scope and estimated staff time for council consideration. Council indicated preference to keep the issue on the PI list rather than delaying it indefinitely.","Council directed staff Aug. 18 to add a broader scoping report on utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) and rental operations to the town's priority-initiative list; staff said a comprehensive study could require 75–100 hours of staff time and cross-department analysis.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587463,"Council directs staff to draft exemption easing contractor certification barriers for young people",1833,4976000,6809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39&start=4976&end=6809","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595896-fd55b41b485d929f3e624de44010aa39/thumbnail_4976000.jpg","/articles/6587463/Jackson/Teton-County/Wyoming/Council-directs-staff-to-draft-exemption-easing-contractor-certification-barriers-for-young-people","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587463-e08332e47bd19643488ca1c5bfa19423/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445478&Signature=N6hs3M-57qE8P8oTAExtTvTschZ4c2HpOf3K323YpFbChS9XqgnV1nt3v1Kgc8EftMe9SFQNt6X0jTNFk~NnsFGUH0qMFJbq8H7a7KLIVRdpYFRdhr966Ltz1-qp3C4~nja3h7q7SThCaK5iCf1askFILy14jv7lcDEu4q2vv-oGoILp-GO3Nt7bzrAEJGFYDzFWIgPyXjibdAmmdScQ1inCIeIT3zJOPp6NIHadSIfmjOOhG3c57BLIO8uJrBraMZuRrPhEzkG0I4RC5i7Eh6h~wYjb509bP8aTb2uTIr96VBqUXNsMaF4gtb8Bk~trKz2c4jjUAOOFwXklSzpeHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council directed staff Aug. 18 to draft an amendment to the municipal contractor-licensing code to create an exemption intended to reduce barriers for young people entering the trades. The motion passed unanimously with Councilman Schechter absent.

Background and what council decided: Paul Anthony, town director of planning and building, presented a scoping report requested in June after two appeals involving applicants who lacked the four years of qualifying experience typically required to become a journeyman. Under current practice, verified pre-apprentice work done without an apprentice COQ card may receive 50% credit toward qualifying experience; staff proposed adding a targeted exemption so younger workers could obtain COQ cards (and thus be formally tracked) while waiving or reducing fees.

How certification works now: The municipal ladder described in the workshop begins with an apprentice COQ card (no prior experience required), followed by four years of qualifying supervised experience to become a journeyman and another four years of journeyman experience to become a master. The current apprentice COQ card fee is $85 and the card is valid for three years.

Staff recommendations and council discussion: Staff suggested a draft amendment that would:
- Allow people under a defined youth age to obtain a COQ card without paying the $85 fee (staff initially suggested under-18 as the bright-line age);
- Still require the COQ card to provide documentation and supervisory oversight so the town can verify qualifying hours; and
- Return draft ordinance language as part of a package of contractor-licensing updates that staff is already preparing.

Council members debated options: some favored a strictly age-based rule (for example, under 18, or under 21), others suggested an hours-based or early-career carve-out (for example, waiving fee or easing documentation for a fixed initial period such as one year or six months). Building official Kelly Schluter emphasized that the COQ card signals on-site authorization and is a life-safety tool: \"That COQ card also is good for 3 years ... it's not $85 a year; it's $85 for a 1 time cost,\" he told council, noting the card helps inspectors verify someone is authorized to be on a job site.

Action taken: Councilwoman Speary moved to direct staff to prepare an amendment to the municipal contractor-licensing chapter to create an exemption for young people; Councilwoman Beeman seconded. The motion passed unanimously with Councilman Schechter absent. Staff said drafting the amendment could be accomplished with existing workloads and recommended including it in the next package of mid-year municipal code updates.

What staff will return with: Draft ordinance language specifying the age or other eligibility criteria, fee-waiver mechanics, verification requirements for supervised hours, and recommended implementation language. Staff flagged two design choices for council direction when the draft returns: whether eligibility should be age-based, time-in-trade-based, or a hybrid; and whether the card itself should be required (with the fee waived) or whether a separate youth credential should be used for tracking initial supervised experience.

Authorities referenced: The staff report referenced the town\u00046s contractor-licensing sections of the municipal code (chapter cited in discussion as both 15.26 and 15.36 during the workshop); the motion directs staff to draft an amendment consistent with those chapters.

Clarifying details pulled from staff presentation: apprentice card requires no prior experience; journeyman requires four years of verified supervised experience; COQ card fee is $85 (one-time, three-year card); staff can verify past high-school work and award 50% credit in current policy, but the proposed change seeks to make early-career crediting and access more straightforward for younger entrants.

Next steps: Staff will draft ordinance language and return to council for formal review and, if directed, ordinance hearings and adoption.","Jackson council directed staff Aug. 18 to prepare an amendment to the municipal contractor-licensing code creating an exemption for young people to obtain Certificate of Qualifications (COQ) cards, with staff to return with draft ordinance language. The motion passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Jackson council approves 2025 Ecosystem Health Indicator Report; directs annual tracking and public posting

Travel and Tourism Board briefs council on Sustainable Destination Management Plan; council seeks wording clarity before formal action

Jackson places UTV rental and use study on priority list amid right‑of‑way, parking and public‑land concerns

Council directs staff to draft exemption easing contractor certification barriers for young people